Are you feeling embarrassed about your smile? Learn about the most common oral health problems and how regular trips to your dental hygienist can keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Looking after your teeth and gums is vital to ensure your mouth stays healthy, and to help you avoid certain oral issues. Visiting your Calgary dental hygienist for regular teeth cleanings is therefore important to prevent:
- tooth decay
- tooth loss
- gum disease
- oral cancer
Affordable & Professional Calgary Dental Hygiene Services
Whatever your oral needs, our team of qualified dentists and dental hygienists offer a wide range of dental services from teeth cleanings and fillings to Invisalign and sedation dentistry to ensure the beauty of your smile and long-term health of your teeth and gums.
Top 3 Embarrassing Oral Health Problems & How to Prevent Them With The Help Of Your Calgary Dental Hygienist
Our smile is at the forefront of our daily interactions with people, but sometimes we find ourselves feeling conscious about certain problems associated with our oral health. Here are some of the most common dental issues and how to solve them:
1. Bad Breath
Bad breath is a common oral hygiene problem that can affect anyone at any age. It is usually a result of poor dental hygiene but can also be a sign of a more serious problem such as gum disease.
How To Fix It
- Brush twice daily and floss at least once a day.
- Visit your dental hygienist every six months for a checkup and cleaning.
- Drink plenty of cool water and swish it around your mouth.
- Replace your toothbrush every 2-3 months.
- Consider using a tongue scraper each morning to decrease the bacteria and dead cells that can cause odor.
- If you wear dentures, remove them at night and clean them to get rid of any bacterial buildup.
2. Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is the destruction of your tooth enamel and is caused by plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth. It can affect children, teenagers and adults, and leads to cavities as well as other more serious problems such as tooth loss down the road. Regular appointments with your Calgary dental hygienist can help you catch this issue early, which is why it's so important to stick to a regular cleaning schedule.
How To Prevent Tooth Decay
- Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
- Clean between your teeth daily with floss or interdental cleaner.
- Eat nutritious and balanced meals and limit snacking.
- Check with your dental hygienist about the use of supplemental fluoride, which can strengthen your teeth.
- Ask your dentist if dental sealants would be a good option for you.
- Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral examinations.
3. Gum Recession
Receding gums, also known as gingival recession, is a condition in which the roots of the teeth become exposed, leading to a greater risk of decay and the eventual loss of teeth, if left untreated.
Exposed roots can also lead to sensitivity to hot foods, cold foods, or acids, making eating difficult and uncomfortable.
How To Treat Receding Gums
The first step in treatment is to determine which factors are contributing to the recession, so they can be eliminated. For example, crooked teeth can be straightened, better oral hygiene methods incorporated, or tobacco use curbed.
Once that is addressed, the following may be suggested by your dentist to enhance and restore the appearance of your gums:
- Deep cleaning. Your dental hygienist may use special tools to remove the plaque and tartar buildup on the roots where the gums are receding, a procedure known as root planing.
- Gum Graft. This involves taking healthy gum tissue from the roof of your mouth or using gum grafting material to replace any missing gum tissue. Your dentist may recommend you see a periodontist for this procedure.
- Regeneration. In severe cases of gum recession, the bone may be destroyed. Recent advances in dentistry allow periodontists to conduct a procedure where a regenerative material is placed in the area of bone loss to help regenerate the bone and tissue.
Call Today
To find out more about the common oral health problems and how our team of qualified dentists and dental hygienists can help you keep a bright and healthy smile, contact our Calgary dental clinic at 403-248-2066 or fill in our online contact form.
